Tens of thousands of people are taking part in state-sponsored anti-Israeli rallies across Iran to mark the annual Al-Quds Day. State media reported that similar rallies were underway in other cities and towns in Iran.

Rouhani told reporters on Friday that Al-Quds Day is an global event and its message to the world is "detestation of the occupying regime (of Israel) and support for the great nation of Palestine", official IRNA news agency reported.

President Hassan Rouhani joined the march in Tehran, hitting out at a new sanctions bill approved by the USA senate.

Sunni Muslim states in the Gulf and Israel say Tehran's ballistic missile program is a threat to regional security and has led to the United States imposing new sanctions.

Addressing a group of university professors and academic elites on Wednesday, Imam Khamenei said that the fight against the Zionist regime "is the fight against arrogance and imperialism and that is why the U.S. politicians consider it as a blow and hostile move", IRNA news agency reported.

On Sunday, Iran fired six 750-kilometre (470-mile) range missiles at an IS base in eastern Syria, days after the militant group claimed twin bombing and shooting attacks in Tehran that left 17 people dead.

In addition to Zolfaqar, capable of reaching the targets at 700 km distance, the IRGC's Qadr missiles were also erected on trucks in the streets.

Some participants also carried placards with pictures of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei and quotes about Jerusalem that are attributed to him.

The authorities took the opportunity to demonstrate Iran's military power, displaying three surface-to-surface mid-range ballistic missiles for the television cameras.

This year's Al-Quds Day rallies were of special importance, Rouhani said, "given the presence of terrorists in the region, who are backed by Israel", emphasizing his determination "to cleanse the region of Tel Aviv-backed terrorists". Iran has marked the day since the start of its 1979 Islamic Revolution, when the country cut relations with Israel.

The missile strikes were Iran's first in more than a decade, according to reports, and came in response to attacks this month on the parliament building and a shrine in Tehran that were blamed on Islamic State militants.